Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis. Unfortunately…

This is my first fanfic so don't expect anything that good. Also, for that reason, flames are not my responsibility. Just kidding. I'll readily take any type of flames. –puts on fireproof gear-

Also, this was originally in poem form, so there will be a lot of switching from view to view and it will sound a bit choppy in some places.


Day 1 – Wednesday

Dear Diary,

I've always watched him from afar. His face is soft and pure and looks so childish. His golden eyes always glow with determination and I just can't help admiring him. Ever since the day I met him and gave him incorrect instructions (I still feel bad about that), I've been having these feelings.

He probably never notices me. I'm probably wasting my time. But I don't know anything. He's inspired me so much and he's why I practice so much. Maybe if I'm good at tennis, he'll respect me more. I doubt I'll ever be as good as him though. Or even be able to play a decent game. He won't notice me even if I am good at it. I'm too clumsy and quiet and I don't deserve him. I also made a really bad first impression. There's no hope.

-Ryuzaki Sakuno


"Momo-senpai, you eat too much," Echizen Ryoma blatantly informed the taller boy who was stuffing his face with burgers.

"Well, I can't help it if I'm hungry," Momoshiro Takeshi said to his kouhai.

"You didn't call me out just to eat, right? What was it you had to tell me?"

"Oh right, that," Momo remembered, wiping ketchup from his mouth with the back of his hand. "You know Ryuzaki Sakuno?"

"Ryuzaki Sakuno? Who's that?"

"Ryuzaki-sensei's granddaughter. The one with the long braids."

"Oh, that girl. What about her?" Ryoma inquired.

"Have you ever noticed anything?"

"Notice? Notice what?" Ryoma asked, voice and face expressionless. If he thought anything about the girl, he didn't let it show.

Momo went on. Not wanting to say it too directly, he hinted, "You know how she…always…looks at…like

this…yeah…and…yeah…"

"Momo-senpai, you're not making sense."

"Eh, never mind." Echizen only thought of tennis anyway. There was no point in pushing the matter any further. It wouldn't get through that thick skull of his.

"If that's it, I'm going home."

"Okay, bye. I'll go as soon as I finish my snack."

Ryoma looked at Momo wolfing down his food and then at the mountain of burgers on the table that covered the big red tray. Snack…I'm surprised he doesn't have financial problems with the way he eats everyday. He pulled down his white cap to hide his rolling eyes and left.


Oishi Syuichirou paced the length of his aquatic bedroom, hands clasped behind his back.

"Eiji…I have something to tell you," he started, "I…

"No, that won't work.

"Eiji…do you like me?

"Too direct!

"Eiji…will you marry me?

"What am I saying!"

The Seigaku fukubuchou collapsed on his bed. "I give up. I'll tell him another day," he thought aloud and turned over on his blue blanket, unaware that Kikumaru Eiji was in his own room doing the same.


Momoshiro patted his spiked-up hair to make sure it was in place as he proceeded up the stairs. "Taku…Echizen is so dense."

He dropped onto his unmade bed in his messy bedroom. Notebooks, tennis equipment, clothes, and a variety of other junk (including candy wrappers and crumbs) laid scattered from corner to corner. The corners of his desk were just barely visible under the manga volumes and CD's. It was hard to distinguish his bed from the clothes lying on the floor. Apparently, he only cleaned his room once a month.

"Doesn't he see her blush every time? He's so slow," Momo asked no one in particular, "I mean, what else does he want? He has all these girls surrounding him and he's so good at English. That inconsiderate brat!" Momo kicked his clothes off the bed out of anger.

"Well, it's not my problem. That reminds me. I'm hungry."

Momo went down the stairs for the second time in less than five minutes and walked into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and exclaimed, "Hey! Who ate all the cake!"


A middle-aged man in a monk's attire sat lazily on his side, one hand propped up against his cheek and one foot swaying a rope attached to a giant bell. A magazine laid sprawled before him. He mumbled, face flushed, as he turned each page. The mumbles sounded suspiciously like, "These girls are so hot,"

"Oyaji." A voice interrupted his thoughts which were sure to be naughty ones.

"What is it, Ryoma?" Echizen Nanjirou asked, annoyed that his son interfered with his "reading."

Ryoma ordered, "Play a serious game with me."

"Eh? A game? It's rare for you to ask, but mada mada dane. I don't want to right now."

"When I request a game, you refuse to play. When you ask for one, I don't want to, but you force me anyway," said Ryoma, bearing the -.- expression on his face.

"Mada mada dane."

"Yarou…" Ryoma muttered and went to practice on his own.

The soft pat of the tennis ball resounded as it hit the wall, bounced off the ground, and made contact with the red racket. Ryoma hit the ball to the same spot consecutively with pinpoint precision. Baka oyaji. Just you wait. You'll be crying when I finally defeat you. the ball whizzed past the boy as it ricocheted off the bricks due to the large amount of force put into it.

His mind traveled to other worthy rivals. Buchou… One day I will defeat you too. I'll steal Seigaku's pillar from under your nose and far surpass you. Ryoma served another ball and hit it with twice as much force. Fuji-senpai… Our game was stopped because of the rain. You were ahead by one game, but I would've made a comeback if Ryuzaki-sensei did not stop us. Don't think you've won just yet. His eyes adjusted to the speed of the ball and he didn't miss it this time. He hit it with yet more force than before. The small boy continued hitting heavy, angry balls until he lowered his arms, letting the ball fall to the ground. Ryoma stood before the wall of tennis players, head down, cap covering his eyes, feeling both determined and discouraged.

Day 2 – Thursday

Dear Diary,

I'm kind of jealous of Tomo-chan. I know I shouldn't be since she's my best friend and everything, but I can't help it. I wish I was loud and open like her. I wish I can shout, "Ryoma-sama!" bravely like her. But when I try to say his name, it comes out as a faint "Ryoma-kun…" It's so faint you can hardly hear my voice at all.

If only I was good at tennis, then I would be more confident. If only I wasn't so clumsy. If only I can get him to notice me. If only I didn't always blush and embarrass myself in front of him. If only I could speak to him and have something good to talk to him about. When he talks to me, my throat ties up and I lose my speech.

-Ryuzaki Sakuno


Fuji Syusuke's Journal

It's really cute. Yes, it is. When I see Ryuzaki and Echizen talking, I smile. The two first-years are about the same height. The arrogant, confident boy and the shy, blushing girl balance each other out. They talk both off and on the courts. She rushes in during the middle of the game when he's hurt, all the while worrying about him, while he insists on going on.

Is it fate? They tend to bump into each other a lot? Coincidence? Maybe so. But fate plays a part in it too. Is it written that they'll live happily each after? This is proceeding like a common fairy tale, but things can be changed. After all, it is only the beginning and the major struggles haven't appeared yet. They may look cute together, but it makes me a bit jealous too when I see them. I had hoped that Echizen would only submit to me.


"Go! Go! Ryoma-sama!" Osakada Tomoka screeched at the top of her lungs. She and Sakuno were at the boys' tennis courts at one of those rare times when BOTH Tomoka didn't have to baby-sit her two little brothers and Sakuno was free of her own tennis practice.

"Ryoma-sama is just amazing. Ne, Sakuno?" Tomoka turned to her friend.

"Ah…hai…"

"What's with that response?"

"Ah…nothing," Sakuno muttered and looked up at Tomoka, forcing a smile.

"Come on, Sakuno. Cheer with me! Go! Go! Ryoma-sama!" Tomoka raised Sakuno's arm and jumped in place.

"Ah! Tomo-chan! You're going to pull it off." Tomoka was only an inch or so taller than her friend but her arms were surely longer.

Ryoma, at the moment, was having a practice match with a third-year regular, Kawamura Takashi.

"Moeruze! BURNING!" The double-personality sushi chef yelled.

"Kawamura-senpai," said the first-year regular, "You're using too much strength."

"Go! Go! Ryoma-sama! R-Y-O-M-A-S-A-M-A! RYOMA-SAMA!"

Ryoma winced. That girl is so annoying and loud. She talks too much. Who is she anyway? She's always loitering at my matches. What's with her? Doesn't she have any club activities?

"Don't look away, Echizen! Burning!"

"Ah!" Ryoma said in surprise and returned to his game.


Horio, a first-year with a unibrow, informed his other first-year friends, Katsuo and Kachiro, "A showdown between the Golden Pair! This will be interesting. Who will win? Will it be Kikumaru-senpai with his flashy acrobatic play? Or will it be Oishi-senpai with his logical play? They also know each other's tennis styles very well, so it will be tough."

"You don't always have to tell us," Kachiro told his show-offy friend.

"Yeah, we already know," Katsuo sided with Kachiro.

"Ehehehehehe," Horio laughed in embarrassment.

Oishi stood facing his doubles partner, tennis ball in hand. Many thoughts were running through his mind, but you wouldn't know that by looking at his calm face. I guess I should go easy on him. Eiji doesn't like to lose much. He comes crying to me and I don't like to see him sad. Although… I kind of like his face on my chest. He looks so cute when he's crying too. But still…he won't like it if I don't play seriously. I'd rather have him sad than mad at me. Can't be helped. I guess I'll take this match too.

"O-i-shi!" A high-pitched voice snapped him back to reality, "I won't lose this time!"

Oishi smiled. "Go ahead and try, Eiji."

"I won't lose!" The redhead pouted and pointed his racket towards Oishi, "and you have to play seriously!"

"Okay, let's go!"


"Come, Yuuta-kun," Mizuki Hajime of St. Rudolph gestured to the tensai's little brother.

"Mizuki-san. Just because you want to come, why do you have to drag me with you?" Fuji Yuuta questioned.

"I thought you might want to see your brother. Don't you?"

No, that's you, he thought. "Aniki is aniki. I'm telling you, I only like him because he's my aniki."

"Don't give me that. I know you like Fuji in more ways than a brother," Mizuki assumed.

Yuuta let out a series of hacking coughs, which were obviously fake.

"My, that's quite a cough you have there, Yuuta-kun," Mizuki twirled a strand of hair near his ear and speculated, "or are you just jealous that I'm your brother's only true rival?"

Again, Yuuta let out a series of fake coughs, but this time incorporating sneezes with them.

"Are you sure you're not sick?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Alright. Come along now, Yuuta-kun," Mizuki ordered, manipulating his way through the brush and toward the courts, where cheers and shouts could be heard.

Day 3 – Friday

Dear Diary,

It's lunchtime and he's sitting in that tree right now. I just can't take my eyes off him. He's so cute. Right now, his cat is nestled in his arms. I don't know what it's doing here, but he's stroking it gently with a loving expression on his face. The cat must be enjoying it. I can hear it's purrs from over here. Sometimes, I wish I was his cat. If I was, he would love me and hold me in his arms too. I would snuggle close to his chest and fall asleep with his gentle touch. Of course, I can't be a cat, but I still wish he liked me. His kitty seems to be the only one he loves…

No! I can't lose to an animal! And to a male one at that! I'm going to walk up to him right now and talk to him.

-Ryuzaki Sakuno

Sakuno put down her pink bunny stationary and got up from the bench she was sitting on, hidden from Ryoma's view. She took a deep breath and straightened her body. Then she lifted her right foot and started to take a step forward, but paused midway. She skittered back onto the bench and gasped, "I can't do it!"


Fuji Syusuke was watching her distress the whole time she was writing in her diary and tried to walk up to Ryoma. He saw her stare longingly at Karupin, the cat. Well, I can't blame her, he thought, I wish I was his cat sometimes too, but then…if I think like that, what will happen to my pride? I absolutely refuse to lose to an animal in such an unsightly and cowardly way. It's male too! Sure, I'm also male, but I'm as feminine as a guy can get. I can pass for a girl easy.

As if to prove his statement true, Fuji stepped into view and walked up to Ryoma.

The tensai asked, "Echizen, are you busy after school? There's no practice today."

Ryoma diverted his attention from Karupin to the ever-smiling boy, "No, I'm not doing anything after school."

"Do you want to go out with me?"

Ryoma looked at his senpai, puzzled. What was Fuji-senpai thinking? He didn't mean what it sounded like, right? Maybe he meant to go to the tennis courts. Yeah, that was it. That's all.

"Sure. I'll meet you at the tennis courts," he answered and walked to class at the gong of the bell.


With Karupin in his bag, Ryoma proceeded to his shoe locker at the end of the day. He switched his more formal school shoes with his Fila sneakers. Much against his will, he found his thoughts wandering toward the incident at lunch. He thought he saw a long chestnut braid from that bench to his left, but that could've been his imagination. He felt a blink of disappointment that it wasn't Sakuno, but was disgusted at himself for thinking that a moment later. What use was a relationship in junior high? It would interfere with his tennis career.

Ryoma still couldn't figure out why Fuji-senpai would ask him that so suddenly, but he wasn't one to dwell on unimportant matters, so he pushed the thought aside.

Karupin squirmed inside the black bag. First, he decided, he would take Karupin back home. His brown and white cat had somehow snuck inside the bag in the morning without Ryoma noticing it until he got to school.


Fuji walked with dainty steps, tennis bag slung across his shoulder, to the destination of his date with Ryoma. I was hoping for a date outside of the courts, Fuji contemplated, but I can't be too greedy. This is better than nothing. He wouldn't understand anyway if I asked him for a real date, but that's what so adorable about him.

He climbed the long flight of stairs to the public courts. Ryoma was already there, situated on the bench, fixing his shoelaces.

"I'm glad you came, Echizen," Fuji let him know of his presence.

"Hello, Fuji-senpai," Ryoma responded, picking up his racket with his left hand, "I hope you're ready."

"Never been readier."


"Oi, Oishi." The Golden Pair was strolling along the streets together. "Where are we going?

"You'll see when we get there," Oishi told Eiji calmly.

"But why can't you tell me what you want to tell me here?" Eiji complained for the 14th time.

"Because…don't ask so many questions!" Oishi responded for the 14th time.

They went up the stairs Fuji and Ryoma had just crossed about ten minutes ago.

"Look, Oishi! Ochibi and Fujiko-chan are here too!" Eiji stated in delight. Fuji and Ryoma did not seem to notice the doubles specialists. Oishi looked a bit disappointed. He had wanted them to be alone

Eiji didn't notice Oishi's letdown, but rather suggested, "Why don't we play a game too?"

The other had to smile at that. "You couldn't beat me yesterday. Why don't you practice more before another challenge?"

"Nya! Don't remind me! I want to go home now," Eiji said on the verge of tears and completely forgetting that it was Oishi who invited him along.

Oishi chased after him, cursing at himself all the while.


She didn't know why she went, but she did. As soon as she saw Fuji and Ryoma leave Seishun Gakuen, she just had to follow, despite the fact that she had tennis practice. She would get punished for that later, but it didn't matter right now. Tomoka would also punish her for not waiting for her.

Perhaps, it was because of the conversation she had overheard between Fuji and Ryoma at lunch. Or perhaps it was because of a gut feeling. It was also probable that she had meant to go home, but accidentally took a wrong turn due to her poor sense of direction, and by chance landed herself at this location. But that didn't explain why she was in her tennis sneakers. Whatever the reason, Sakuno found herself hiding in the brush watching the two regulars fight for the win. She had also bumped into Eiji and Oishi coming down the stairs, but gave them no heed. She concentrated all her attentions on her crush.

The game count was 1-0 with Fuji in the lead. Sakuno hoped that would change. Somehow, the two on the courts managed to strike up a conversation while still playing at the same time.

"You've gotten better, Echizen, but…it's still too early to best me. Tsubame Gaeshi!" Fuji announced one of his triple counters. The ball slid on the ground with no bounce causing Ryoma to lose the point. 30-15.

Ryoma looked at the path the ball had traveled along. "Hmm. Fuji-senpai's gotten better too.

"No need to compliment me," Fuji stated, eyes closed in an amused smile.

A "Sugoi!" slipped from Sakuno's mouth. Maybe a bit too loud, but they didn't seem to hear.

They returned to their positions, Fuji still smiling benignly. It amuses me, Echizen, Fuji thought to himself, how far you will go for the win. I love the exasperated you. I love the determined look you get when you're pushed past your limits. For that reason, I will go all out.

"Higuma Otoshi!" Fuji unleashed the second of his triple counters, "Sate…let's see how far you can go, Echizen."

The game went on in an equal pace. Each time, they changed courts Sakuno could see Ryoma up close. She could see each strand of black-green hair that flowed in the wind. She could see his olive eyes that told everyone, "I will win!" She could see every bead of sweat on his forehead that indicated he was having fun. She could see his definite stance as he walked by. She could see his calm yet aroused nature of his childish yet mature visage. She could see his tight grip on the racket and although he couldn't see her, she blushed and covered her face with her hands.

Finally, the game ended with 7-5. Fuji emerged the victor. They walked up to each other and shook hands, rackets tucked below their left arms.

"That was a great game, Echizen," Fuji complimented.

"Aa…" Ryoma agreed unenthusiastically and pulled his cap down further to cover his eyes and nose.

"Hmm. There seems to be a little kitty over there," Fuji pointed toward the bush where Sakuno was taking refuge, a smile sadistically playing on his curved lips.

"Hmm? Really?" Echizen now turned towards her. It seemed that he had known all along. He showed no reaction of surprise. Sakuno blushed and hid her face. Then she rose from the dirt and walked forward, head down and still blushing.

"Ryuzaki-san…what were you doing there?" the tensai insinuated.

She looked up at Ryoma, whose eyes seemed to bore a hole right through her. She gave a small yelp and stuttered, "Um…uh…I-I was just…um…I wasn't doing anything…suspicious…or…something…I was just…um…inspecting the leaves…yeah…" She tried to smile at them while mentally kicking herself for the lame excuse.

"We understand, Ryuzaki-san," Fuji set his hand on Sakuno's shoulder. She grimaced. "We'll let you go. But don't let us catch you next time, okay?" Fuji smiled sweetly into her eyes. Sakuno's face turned red. Ryoma neither said a word or reacted.

"Hai…" Sakuno said meekly and quickly sprinted away, face growing even redder.


I'm sorry nothing really happens in this chapter. I promise it'll get better.